Hinge for molded pulp egg carton



P 30, 1969 H. w. VOORHIS 3,469,763

HINGE FOR MOLDED PULP EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 19. 1968 '50 :IIII/IIIII/lm INVENTOR nmzow w.vo0Rms p. (21 Wfihfi, Mfrs/MW) ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 229-44 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an egg or similar carton which includes a carton body and a pair of covers for opening and closing an end of the body opposite a bottom wall thereof. Each of the covers includes hinge means joining each cover to an associated side panel. The hinge means are defined in part by a first wall portion having a wall thickness corresponding generally to the wall thickness of the side walls and the covers, and terminal wall portions which are appreciably greater in wall thickness than the first-mentioned wall thickness thereby functioning to reinforce the hinge means to reduce the fracture thereof, particularly when the carton is of a molded pulp or similar construction.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel carton having a carton body defined in part by a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, cover means for closing an end of the carton body opposite the bottom wall, and hinge means connecting the cover means to one of the pair of walls, the cover means and the one wall being of generally the same wall thickness, the hinge means being defined in part by a first wall portion between the cover means of a wall thickness generally equal to the first-mentioned wall thickness, and the hinge means being further defined by a second wall portion which is appreciably greater in wall thickness than the first-mentioned wall thickness thereby functioning to reinforce the hinge means to reduce the fracture of the first wall portion upon the opening and closing of the carton by the relatively folding of the carton body and the cover means about the hinge means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of the type heretofore set forth wherein the one wall is one of the side walls, the hinge means extends between the end walls, and the second wall portion and another identical wall portion are disposed generally adjacent opposite terminal ends of the hinge means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of the type just described wherein the carton is of a molded paper pulp construction.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of the carton of this invention, and illustrates two covers each hingeably connected by identical hinge lines to an adjacent side of the carton body.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of a portion of the carton of FIGURE 1 with the covers in the open position thereof, and illustrates a reinforced wall portion at one end of each of the two hinge lines.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and more clearly illustrates the generally uniform wall thickness of a major portion of each of the hinge lines.

ice

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, and illustrates a thickened, reinforced portion of one of the hinge lines.

FIGURE 5 is a highly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIGURE 3, and more clearly illustrates the thickened and reinforced portion of the hinge line of FIGURE 3.

A novel carton constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral10, and is preferably of an integral one-piece molded paper pulp construction. The carton 10 may, of course, be constructed from other material but the invention is primarily directed to cartons of a molded pulp consruction.

The carton 10 comprises a carton body generally referred to by the reference numeral 12, and a pair of covers 13, 14.

The carton body 12 includes opposite end walls 15, 16, a pair of side walls 17, 18 and a bottom wall 20 which is defined by a plurality of individual bottom wall portions 21. The carton body 12 is divided into a plurality of pairs of compartments 22 by longitudinal partition wall means 23 and a plurality of transverse partition wall means 24. The compartments 22 are each adapted to receive an individual frangible article, such as an egg, but the invention is not limited by the particular construction of the carton body 12, the compartmented nature thereof, or the particular article or articles which are adapted to be packaged therein.

The covers 13, 14 are respectively joined to the side walls 17, 18 of the carton body 12 by respective identical hinge means 25, 25.

Each of the hinge means 25 includes a first wall portion 26 having a wall thickness generally equal to the wall thickness of the covers 13, 14 and the side walls 17, 18, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing. In the open position of the cover 13, for example (FIGURE 3), the first Wall portion 26 of the hinge means 25 is defined by an exterior channel-like surface 27 While an interior upper surface (unnumbered) is of a generally convex configuration.

Each wall portion 26 runs substantially the entire length of the carton body 12 but terminates at opposite ends thereof in identical second wall portions 28, 30 (FIGURE 1). The wall portions 30 are positioned adjacent the end wall 15 while the wall portions 28 are positioned adjacent the end wall 16. The wall portions 28, 30 are each defined by a lower generally fiat exterior surface 31 and an upper interior surface (unnumbered) of a convex configuration which merges with the interior convex surface (unnumbered) of the wall portions 26. The thickness of the material between the exterior surface 31 and the convex interior surface of the wall portions 28, 30 is approximately twice as thick as the thickness between the channel-like surface 27 and the interior convex surface (unnumbered) of the Wall portions 26. The portions 28, 30 thereby serve to reinforce the thinner and weaker wall portions 26 of the hinge means, particularly when the carton 10 is a molded pulp construction. In conventional molded pulp cartons absent the wall portions 28, 30 repeated opening and closing of the covers 13, 14 cause the conventional hinge lines or hinge means to fracture and/ or tear along the length thereof. This appreciably weakens the carton structure and reduces the reuse life of such cartons. However, due to the construction the thicker terminal wall portions 28, 30 of the hinge means 25, 25 the carton 10 can be reused for an appreciably longer time period than corresponding cartons devoid of comparable wall portions corresponding to the portions 28, 30.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising a carton body defining in part by a bottom wall, a pair of side Walls and a pair of end walls, cover means for opening and closing an end of said carton body opposite said bottom wall, and hinge means connecting said cover means to one of said pair of walls, said cover means and said one wall being of generally the same wall thickness, said hinge means being defined in part by a first Wall portion between said cover means and said one wall of a wall thickness generally equal to said first-mentioned wall thickness, and said hinge means being further defined by a second wall portion which is appreciably greater in wall thickness than said first-mentioned wall thickness thereby functioning to reinforce said hinge means to reduce the fracture of said first wall portion upon the opening and closing of said carton by the relative folding of said carton body and said cover means about said hinge means.

2. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said carton is of a molded paper pulp construction.

3. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said one wall is one of said side walls, said hinge means extends between said end walls, and said second wall portion and another identical wall portion are disposed generally adjacent opposite terminal ends of said hinge means.

4. The carton as defined in claim 3 wherein said carton is of a molded paper pulp construction.

5. The carton as defined in claim 3 wherein in the open position of said cover means said first wall portion is defined by a channel-like exterior surface and a convex interior surface, and said second and another wall portions are defined by generally flat exterior surfaces and convex interior surfaces.

6. The carton as defined in claim 5 wherein said carton is of a molded paper pulp construction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 229-25, 29 

